Avatar service system and method for animating avatar on a terminal on a network

ABSTRACT

Provided is an avatar service system and method that are provided through a network. The avatar service system may include a request receiving unit to receive a request for an avatar to perform an action, a data extracting unit to extract metadata and image data corresponding to the request from the database storing the metadata with respect to the action of the avatar and the image data for a plurality of layers forming the avatar, and an avatar action processing unit to generate and provide action data for applying, to the avatar, the action of the avatar corresponding to the request using the extracted metadata and the extracted image data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2012-0008553, filed on Jan. 27, 2012, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes as if fullyset forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an avatarservice system and method through a wired and wireless network.

Discussion of the Background

An avatar provided in a service through a network is configured by acombination of clothes, a face, and accessories. An avatar in aconventional art is usually stationary or even is when the avatar ismobile, the avatar may move as a single unit irrespective of thecombination of the clothes, face and accessories.

An avatar in the conventional art may include layers, such as, theclothes, a face, and accessories. When the avatar is configured by acombination of motionless images or is mobile, an issue of broken imagesmay arise. The broken images are usually seen as disappearing clothes oraccessories on the avatar. Also, an additional plug-in, for example,FLASH or “unity three-dimension (3D)” may need to be installed toimplement the avatar animation.

A messenger service is an acquaintance-based service and supports atext-based chat, absent an avatar. The messenger service adopts a formatof representing a user by a predetermined image in lieu of an avatar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an avatar servicesystem and method for storing and maintaining metadata for representingan action and a plurality of rotated images based on an action for aplurality of layers forming an avatar in a database, respectively; andfor expressing various actions such as a motion or a facial expressionrelated to an emotion, and the like, of the avatar, by providing themetadata and the plurality of rotated images corresponding to the actionin response to a request.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an avatar servicesystem and method for resolving an issue of a broken image due to arotated image and for improving an overall quality of the avatar serviceby forming additional item layers for items such as accessories,clothes, and the like, to be added to an avatar. Exemplary embodimentsof is the present invention provide an avatar service having improvedoverall quality, by providing layers forming a body of the avatar, andby generating and maintaining a plurality of rotated images for aplurality of additional item layers to provide the plurality of rotatedimages for the plurality of additional item layers suitable for actionsof layers forming the body.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also provide a chatservice system and method for engaging the interest of a user byenabling the user to select an avatar in a chat service and by expandinga range of maximizing the avatar. This can provide for expressingvarious emotions of the user realistically through an action of theavatar by adding a sense of liveliness to a chat, as compared to astatic text-based chat.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a chat servicesystem and method for providing users with a service that enables atleast one or more of a random chat function to chat with all otherusers, an additional chat log while using the avatar for verifying aprevious chat or an action of an avatar, and a sense of liveliness to achat by allowing the avatar to move.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a chat servicesystem and method for automatically expressing an action such as anemotion or a motion of an avatar. The identification can be performed byone or more of identifying a predetermined word among chat content, byproviding a speech bubble subject to change according to the chatcontent rather than an identical speech bubble, and by allowing a userto select the speech bubble.

Additional features of the invention will be set forth in thedescription which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose an avatarservice is system for providing an avatar service on a network, thesystem including: a request over the network receiving unit configuredto receive a request for an avatar to perform an action; a dataextracting unit configured to extract metadata and image datacorresponding to the request from a database storing the metadata withrespect to the action and the image data comprising layers forming theavatar; and an avatar action processing unit configured to generateaction data for applying the action to the avatar using the extractedmetadata and the extracted image data.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose an avatarservice method performed by an avatar service system for providing anavatar service on a network, the method including: receiving a requestover the network for an avatar to perform an action; extracting metadataand image data corresponding to the request from the database storingthe metadata with respect to the action and the image data comprisinglayers forming the avatar; and generating action data for applying theaction to the avatar using the extracted metadata and the extractedimage data.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose an avatarservice method performed by a terminal on a network, the methodincluding: displaying an avatar on a screen; transmitting, over thenetwork, a request for the avatar to perform an action to a server; andreceiving action data for the action from the server. The metadata andimage data corresponding to the action are extracted by the server froma database and the image data includes layers forming the avatar, theaction data is generated in the server based on the extracted metadataand the extracted image data, and the displaying of the avatar furtherincludes displaying the action of the avatar on the screen based on theaction data.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media having stored thereon a computer programthat, when executed by a terminal including a display, a networkconnection and one or more processors, causes the one or more processorsto perform acts that provide an avatar service on the network, the actsincluding: displaying an avatar on a screen; transmitting, over thenetwork, a request for the avatar to perform an action to a server; andreceiving action data for the action from the server. The metadata andimage data corresponding to the action are extracted by the server froma database and the image data includes layers forming the avatar, theaction data is generated in the server based on the extracted metadataand the extracted image data, and the displaying of the avatar furtherincludes displaying the action of the avatar on the screen based on theaction data.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of theinvention, and together with the description serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a terminal and a server connected through a networkaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a database according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates image data for a plurality of layers according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates layers forming a body of an avatar to perform anaction of the avatar according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process of extracting image data from a databaseaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates metadata according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an action of an avatar according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a front view and a back view, respectively, ofan avatar including a plurality of layers according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a body layer and item layers corresponding to aframework layer displaying a framework of an avatar according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates an avatar service provided via a mobile networkaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates an avatar service provided via a mobile networkaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates an animal-shaped avatar provided according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates an item category structure of an avatar according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates an avatar represented in a vehicle according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a chat stage according to exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates a chat log according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 18 illustrates a method for providing a chat log according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 19 illustrates a random chat function according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 20 illustrates a chat room, a server, and a word database accordingto exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates speech bubbles in various shapes according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates speech bubbles in various shapes used according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 23 illustrates an inner configuration of an avatar service systemaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 24 illustrates an avatar service method for an avatar servicesystem according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 25 illustrates an inner configuration of a terminal according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 26 illustrates an avatar service method conducted by a terminalaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the inventionare shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments setforth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so thatthis disclosure is thorough, and will fully convey the scope of theinvention to those skilled in the art. It will be understood that forthe purposes of this disclosure, “at least one of X, Y, and Z” can beconstrued as X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or moreitems X, Y, and Z (e.g., XYZ, XZ, XYY, YZ, ZZ). Throughout the drawingsand the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the samedrawing reference numerals are understood to refer to the same elements,features, and structures. The relative size and depiction of theseelements may be exaggerated for clarity.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the presentdisclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. doesnot denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denotes the presence ofat least one of the referenced item. The use of the terms “first”,“second”, and the like does not imply any particular order, but they areincluded to identify individual elements. Moreover, the use of the termsfirst, second, etc. does not denote any order or importance, but ratherthe terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element fromanother. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or“comprising”, or “includes” and/or “including” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, regions,integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof. Although some features may be described with respect toindividual exemplary embodiments, aspects need not be limited theretosuch that features from one or more exemplary embodiments may becombinable with other features from one or more exemplary embodiments.

In addition, embodiments described in the specification are whollyhardware, and may be partially software or wholly software. In thespecification, “unit”, “module”, “device”, “system”, or the likerepresents a computer related entity such as hardware, combination ofhardware and software, or software. For example, in the specification,the unit, the module, the device, the system, or the like may be anexecuted process, a processor, an object, an executable file, a threadof execution, a program, and/or a computer, but are not limited thereto.For example, both of an application which is being executed in thecomputer and a computer may correspond to the unit, the module, thedevice, the system, or the like in the specification.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected to” another element, it can be directly connected to theother element, or intervening elements may be present.

FIG. 1 illustrates a terminal and a server connected through a networkaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. A terminal110 and a server 120 are connected via a network 130.

The terminal 110 may be a wired communication terminal or a wirelesscommunication terminal. The terminal 110 may communicate with the server120 through the is network 130 using a communication module included inthe terminal 110. For example, when the terminal 110 is the wirelesscommunication terminal, the network 130 may be a wireless communicationnetwork using a base station, a gateway, and the like, or may be awireless communication network for connecting to the Internet using anaccess point. When the terminal 110 is the wired communication terminal,the network 130 may be a wired communication network connected to theInternet using a local area network (LAN). Further descriptions of thewireless and wired communication network will be omitted since suchcommunication technologies are well known in the field of the presentinvention.

The server 120 may be a system for providing an avatar service, a chatservice, an avatar service in a social networking service (SNS), asocial network game (SNG) service, or a combination thereof to theterminal 110. The server 120 may provide an avatar service to theterminal 110, and the avatar service may provide an avatar allowingvarious actions for a plurality of layers used for combining avatars.For example, the server 120 may be a system for providing the chatservice using an avatar to the terminal 110. The server 120 may supportrealistic expression of emotions of a user through an avatar by enablingvarious avatar actions.

FIG. 2 illustrates a database according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention. A database 200 may enable various actions of anavatar to be performed and may store and maintain metadata 210 withrespect to an action of an avatar, and image data 220 for a plurality oflayers for forming an avatar. The database 210 may be included in theserver 120, or included in an additional system that provides data tothe server 120. The server 120 may extract the metadata 210 and theimage data 220 necessary from the database 200 to provide the extractedmetadata 210 and the image data 220 to the terminal 110 of FIG. 1. Forexample, the server 120 of FIG. 2 may compose the image data 220 for aplurality of frames based on the metadata 210, and provide a composedanimation to the terminal 110. The server 120 may provide the extractedmetadata 210 and the image data 220 to the terminal 110, and may composethe image data 220 based on the metadata 210 on the terminal 110 todisplay the plurality of frames. The avatar service system and methodmay represent an avatar of various actions through a scheme of composingthe image data 220 for a plurality of layers based on the metadata 210.

FIG. 3 illustrates image data for a plurality of layers according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates anexample in which images of an object are rotated about a central axis(an imaginary axis) 310. Each of the images is from a viewpoint that isrotated about the axis at a constant/fixed distance. The rotated imagescan be generated by either rotating the object or the camera. The imagescan be generated by drawing, for example, with a computer, an artist, ora combination thereof. The images can be fixed images of a layer, whereeach image is from a different viewing angle about the imaginary axis.For example, 360 rotated images may be generated over a range of zerodegrees to 360 degrees based on a central axis 310 for a single layer,in a rotation unit of 1 degree. The rotation unit may be to a differentvalue, for example, 2 degrees, 5 degrees, or the like. Central axis 310is illustrated as a cross-hair and represents an axis perpendicular tothe view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 illustrates layers forming a body of an avatar for an action ofthe avatar according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.The body of the avatar may be divided into many layers. For example, theavatar of FIG. 4 can include ten (10) layers including a head (Headimage area), a torso (Body image area), an upper right arm (Arm_r_1image area), a lower right arm (Arm_r_2 image area), an upper left arm(Arm_l_1 image area), a lower left arm (Arm_l_2 image area), an upperright leg (Leg_r_1 image area), a lower right leg (Leg_r_2 is imagearea), an upper left leg (Leg_l_1 image area), and a lower left leg(Leg_l_2 image area).

The layers may include a central axis, and may be rotated based on thecentral axis. The avatar may include or may be divided into more orfewer layers. The avatar can be divided into more layers to provide amore detailed motion to the avatar.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process of extracting image data from a databaseaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 5illustrates 360 rotated images for each of a plurality layers may bestored in the database as image data. The rotated images may beextracted and provided for expressing a requested action. In theexemplary database of FIG. 5, the 360 rotated images may be stored from1 degree to 360 degrees in a unit of one degree for the plurality oflayers. “Layer code” may be an identifier to identify the particularlayer from the plurality of layers associated with the image. FIG. 5illustrates extracting rotated images including a range of 59 degrees to64 degrees (illustrated by the dashed boxes) from among rotated imagesof a layer including rotated images ranging from 0 degrees to 360degrees. Exemplary layers in FIG. 5 are named “bd_x_a1_01,” “bd_x_a2_00”and “bd_x_a5_00.”

The plurality of layers may be rotated about the corresponding centralaxis based on an application of a rotated image, and the plurality oflayers may be moved based on a location of the central axis on a screen.Information on the rotation of the plurality of layers or the locationof the central axis of the plurality of layers may be included inmetadata. For example, for the plurality of layers the metadata mayinclude information, such as, coordinates, coordinates of the locationthe central axis of the rotated image, the rotated images angle, arotation value.

FIG. 6 illustrates metadata according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention. An exemplary structure “ani01.xml” may provide themetadata in a form of an is extensible markup language (XML). Thestructure name “ani01.xml” can be an identifier of a requested action. Avalue of “scene frame” may be an identifier for identifying a frame.“Scene frame=1” may be a first frame of a corresponding action. “Layercode” may be an identifier for identifying a layer as described in thepreceding. An identifier “z_order” may correspond to a depth of layersin a frame. For example, as a value of “z_order” increases, a layer maybe displayed at a front of a screen. An identifier “angle” maycorrespond to a rotated image to be applied. For example, “angle=0” mayindicate that a rotated image corresponding to 360 degrees may beapplied. Identifiers “offset_x” and “offset_y” may indicate coordinates.Such coordinates may be absolute coordinates corresponding to thecoordinates of the screen, and may also be relative coordinates withrespect to a standard location of an area in which an avatar isrepresented.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, when the terminal 110 is provided with anavatar service by connecting to the server 120 through the network 130,the server 120 may receive a request associated with an action of anavatar from the terminal 110. The server 120 may compose an image of anavatar with a requested action to provide the composed image to theterminal 110.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the server 120 mayextract the metadata 210 and the image data 220 associated with theaction requested from the database 200, to provide the extractedmetadata 210 and the extracted image data 220 to the terminal 110. Theserver 120 may display the image data 220 for a plurality of framesbased on the metadata 210 on the terminal 110. For example, the metadata210 may be provided through a wired and wireless network in the form ofXML as described in FIG. 6. The server 120 may generate an XML fileusing the metadata 210 and the image data 220 to provide the generatedxml file to the is terminal 110. The server 120 may add a networkaddress for the image data 220 to the XML file provided to the terminal110. The terminal 110 may process the XML file through a standardnetwork protocol, such as, a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) 5. Theimage data 220 may be provided to the terminal 110 through the networkaddress added to the XML file.

FIG. 7 illustrates an action of an avatar 700 according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. The action of the avatar 700 maybe determined based on coordinates and a rotation value of layersforming the avatar 700. The coordinates and the rotation value ofrotated images of the layers may be determined for a plurality offrames, and when the plurality of frames are displayed on a screen insuccession, an animation based on the action of the avatar 700 may beprovided to a user. Also, the location of the avatar 700 may be moved byuniformly changing all coordinates values forming the avatar. Exemplaryarrows included in FIG. 7 indicate some of the rotations of variouslayers that are feasible, such as, rotations of the lower arms and/orlower legs. Not shown in FIG. 7 are illustrations of other layers ofavatar 700, for example, the head, the body, the upper arms, the upperlegs.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a front and a back, respectively, of an avatarincluding a plurality of layers according to exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention. The front and back of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 isdetermined with respect to a plane of rotation 810. FIGS. 8 and 9 areexamples in which an exterior of the avatar is provided in a form of alayer structure. A central axis may be predetermined for a plurality oflayers, and the plurality of rotated images may exist based on thecentral axis for each layer. The plurality of rotated images may bestored as the image data 220 for the plurality of layers in the database200 as described in the preceding. The plurality of rotated images mayexist for the plurality of layers, respectively, and the server 120 mayprovide rotated images and metadata required for an action of theavatar.

As described in the foregoing, the terminal 110 may display the rotatedimages by combining the rotated images based on the metadata. The layersvisible in the front view of FIG. 8 can be named, for example: face-faceshape, accessory-umbrella, face-nose, face-lip, face-back ear, upperbody-back upper arm, body-back upper arm, body-back lower arm,accessory-umbrella handle, body-back thigh, body-back calf, shoe-shoefor back calf, hair-front hair, face-eyebrow, face-eye, face-front ear,upper body-front upper arm, body-torso, body-front upper arm, body-frontlower arm, upper body-center, lower body-center, body-front calf,shoe-shoe for front calf. The layers visible in the back view of FIG. 9can be named, for example: accessory-umbrella, hair-back hair,face-front ear, face-face shape, upper body-front upper arm, body-frontupper arm, body-back upper arm, body-front thigh, body-front calf,shoe-shoe for front calf, upper body-center, upper body-back upper arm,body-back lower arm, body-torso, lower body-center, body-back thigh,body-back calf, shoe-shoe for back calf.

FIG. 10 illustrates a body layer and item layers corresponding to aframework layer displaying a framework of an avatar according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. The avatar may indicatethat a body disposed within the framework and other items disposedwithin the framework may move simultaneously based on an action of theframework. A layer representing the framework may change coordinates andan angle of the body layer and the item layer corresponding tocoordinates and an angle to which the body layer and the item layer aremoved, such that an issue of a broken image may be prevented. Forexample, as illustrated, the framework “Framework-Front upper arm” hasdisposed with it a body “Body-Front upper arm” and an item “Upperbody-Front upper arm.”

FIG. 11 illustrates an avatar service provided via a mobile networkaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. A screen1100 is an example illustrating a is screen of a mobile terminal. Thescreen 1100 is an example in which an avatar is set for a representativeprofile image of an SNS, in lieu of a photo of a user. The avatar mayexpress an emotion or a state of the avatar by an action of the avatar,such as, a facial expression, a body motion, and the like.

FIG. 12 illustrates an avatar service provided via a mobile networkaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. A screen1200 is an example of a chat service using an avatar. An emotion, astate, and the like of a user may be transmitted to another user throughan action of the avatar, as well as through a text-based chat.Predetermined actions of the avatar may be provided in advance, and aselected action from among the provided actions may be reflected in theavatar of the user. The action of the avatar may be selected in variousways. For example, the action of the avatar may be selected by analyzinga text input by the user.

In the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as shown in FIGS.11 and 12, an avatar can express various actions and facial expressionswithout installing an additional program, for example, a plug-in, may besupported on a wired and wireless network. The avatar service thatenables the action of the avatar may be provided in a mobile networkservice.

Referring to FIG. 12, when an item is disposed on the avatar, an actionof the avatar may be applied to a corresponding item. When the avatarmoves, items such as clothes, accessories, and the like, disposed on theavatar may move or rotate in a manner corresponding to the action of theavatar to prevent an issue of a broken image.

In the chat service according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, a profile image of a user may be displayed together with aprofile image 1210 of another user in an area in which a chat log isdisplayed.

FIG. 13 illustrates an animal-shaped avatar provided according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 13 illustrates afirst user interface 1310 through which an animal-shaped avatar, a humanmale avatar and a human female avatar may be selected. A second userinterface 1310 allows a user to set a name of the selected avatar. Theuser interfaces may be provided to the user through an applicationinstalled on a user terminal.

FIG. 14 illustrates an item category structure of an avatar according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. An avatar system mayassign a gender to the avatar. The avatar system may generate a speciesavatar, such as, a human avatar, an animal avatar, or the like, byassigning a species property, that is, an animal characteristic, asidefrom the gender property. A virtual species may be added as the speciesproperty. An individual element may be changed or put on the avatarusing various items set, such as, an appearance, clothes, and the like,and a user may control an action of the avatar.

The application described in FIG. 13 may include at least one or more ofexemplary user interfaces (not shown). The user interfaces are named (1)to (7) and may be combined with each other.

(1) The application can include a wardrobe interface for identifyingitems or actions provided to a user, or items or actions purchased bythe user. The items may include items of a face shape, an eyebrow, aneye, a nose, lips, hair, or a complexion to form a face of an avatar.The items may include clothes, accessories, or items for a pet. The petmay have a dedicated set of actions, and may also be able to move. Thewardrobe interface may display items by distinguishing the items intowearable and non-wearable based on the gender or the species of theavatar. Items or actions attributable to an avatar may be provided bycategory.

(2) The application can include a combination interface for providing apreview of is various combined items.

(3) The application can include an avatar rotating interface forrotating an avatar. A user may rotate the avatar using the avatarrotating interface, and identify the avatar combined through thecombination interface.

(4) The application can include a random combination interface forcombining items at random. For example, when the random combinationinterface is selected from a highly ranked category, an application mayselect items at random from among all items of subcategories of the highrank category to combine the selected items. As another example, whenthe random combination interface is selected subsequent to beingadmitted into a predetermined category, an application may select itemsat random from among items of corresponding category to combine theselected items. The random combination interface may further include afunction of combining items at random from among items held by a user,or a function of combining items at random from among items for sale.

(5) The application can include an item purchase interface forpurchasing items such as clothes or accessories. The item purchaseinterface may include the combination interface (2) described above.Users may combine items to an avatar of the users prior to purchasingthe items. The item purchase interface may further include a shoppingbasket interface to store selected items. The items stored through theshopping basket interface may be combined automatically in advance inthe avatar of the users. A set duration for usage may be assigned to theitems purchased.

(6) The application can include an action purchase interface forpurchasing an action able to be performed by an avatar combined withclothes. For example, a user may purchase and use an additional actionaside from a basic action provided. The action purchase is interface mayinclude a pre-purchase action performance interface to provideinstructions to an avatar of a user for performing a selected actionprior to purchasing the action. An application may play an animation inwhich the avatar of the user performs a predetermined action prior topurchasing the action to show the animation to the user.

(7) The application can include a user interface for gifting an item oran action to a user. An item held by a user may be deleted through adeletion function. When an item is deleted, a predetermined number ofrewards may be provided to the user for at least a portion of items, byintroducing a concept of recycling.

FIG. 15 illustrates an avatar represented in a vehicle according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. The mobile device may beincluded as an item to be combined to the avatar. As described in thepreceding, the avatar may be able to move, and for example, may change alocation based on an action of the avatar or an input of a user in achat stage such as a chat window or a chat room. The avatar representedin the vehicle may move in the chat stage. As used herein, the “chatwindow”, the “chat room”, and the “chat stage” may be used to refer tothe same chat environment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the server 120 may extract the metadata 210and the image data 220 necessary from the database 200 in response to arequest transmitted from the terminal 120. The request may be generatedthrough a control of an application installed in the terminal 120.

The server 120 may generate a necessary animation using the extractedmetadata 210 and the extracted image data 220, and transmit theanimation to the terminal 120. The terminal 120 may display theanimation on a corresponding service screen, such as, a chat window,based on the control of the application.

The server 120 may store and maintain the generated animation for apredetermined duration. When the requested animation is stored inadvance, the server 120 may transmit the stored animation to theterminal 120 in response to the request. The server 120 may extract datafrom the database 200, and generate an animation when the animation isnot stored.

FIG. 16 illustrates a chat stage according to exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention. A first screen 1610 and a second screen 1620 areexamples of a screen of a mobile terminal. The first screen 1610 maydisplay avatars of a plurality of users in a chat room to which theplurality of users are connected. The first screen 1610 may display theavatars above the chat content. A user may move an avatar 1630 bysetting a location 1640 to which the avatar 1630 of the user is to bemoved. The second screen 1620 may display that the avatar 1630 is movedto the location 1640 set by the user. The location of the avatar 1630may be moved by integrally adjusting coordinates of a central axis ofrotated images forming the avatar 1630. For example, the terminal 110may transmit coordinates to which the avatar 1630 is to be moved to theserver 120 when the terminal 110 requests the server 120 to move theavatar 1630. The server 120 may control movement of the avatar 1630using the received coordinates. The server 120 may transmit the changedlocation information of the avatar 1630 to other users participating ina chat. The location of the avatar 1630 may also be changed on screensof terminals of the other users upon receiving the changed coordinatesfrom server 120.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a usermay express various emotions realistically through an action of anavatar. An avatar service may be reflected in a social networkingservice (SNS) or social network game (SNG) as well as a chat service. Inthe chat service, an interest may be attracted from a user by enablingthe user to select an avatar and by expanding a range for maximizing theavatar, and a sense of liveliness is may be provided to a chat through amovement of the avatar in a chat window, rather than simply a statictext-based chat.

FIG. 17 illustrates a chat log according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention. When a chat is performed using a chat stage andavatars, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, an application may include anadditional chat log viewing interface. A screen 1700 is an example of ascreen of a mobile terminal, and illustrates the chat log beingdisplayed. The chat log may include a text input by users for chatting,and an action 1710 such as an emotion, a motion, and the like, of anavatar.

FIG. 18 illustrates a method for providing a chat log 1820 according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. When an N number ofusers are connected to a single chat room or a chat stage 1810, theserver 120 may generate the chat log 1820 with respect to the chat stage1810. The server 120 may record information on text transmitted fromterminals of users or an action of an avatar in the chat log 1820. Whena user selects a chat log viewing interface, the server 120 may providethe chat log 1820 to the corresponding terminal. The terminal receivingthe chat log 1820 may allow a user to identify an action of the avataras shown on the screen 1700 of FIG. 17 by displaying the received chatlog 1820 on a screen.

FIG. 19 illustrates a random chat function according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. The server 120 may identify usersrequesting a random chat from among a plurality of users 1900 using thechat service. In operation 1910, the server 120 may verify an existenceof a requester for the random chat. In operation 1920, when therequester is verified to exist in the chat service (YES), a random chatroom may be created. When the requester is verified to be non-existentin the chat service (NO), the server 120 may pause and perform operation1910. The server 120 may admit users to the random chat room based on ais sequential order of the request for the random chat, and may controla number of users admitted to a single random chat room. The server 120may support random chat between the users requesting random chat at asimilar timing (on or about the same time). When the number ofrequesters for the random chat is at least two in operation 1910, theserver 120 may create the random chat room in operation 1920.

FIG. 20 illustrates a chat room, a server, and a word database accordingto exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The server 120 maytransmit chat content received from terminals of users admitted to achat room 2010 to terminals of all users present in the chat room 2010.The server 120 may process an action of an avatar in response to arequest received from the terminals of the users admitted to the chatroom 2010 for the avatar to perform the action. The server 120 maytransmit a result of the processing of the action of the avatar to theterminals of all the users present in the chat room 2010.

The server 120 may include a word database 2020 or may use the worddatabase 2020 in interaction with an additional system including theword database 2020. A word that associates an action tag with an actionof an avatar may be stored in the word database 2020. The server 120 mayverify the action tag of the associated avatar by searching for acorresponding word in the word database 2020 when the stored wordincluded in the word database 2020 is included in the chat contentgenerated in the chat room 2010.

For example, a word “smile” may be stored in association with an actiontag “smiley face” in the word database 2020. When the word “smile”exists in chat content of a user A present in the chat room 2010, theserver 120 may verify the action tag “smiley face” through the worddatabase 2020. The server 120 may control an avatar of the user A toperform an action of “smiley face” for the user's avatar. A plurality ofwords may be stored in association with a is single action tag in theword database 2020. As such, an avatar may be controlled to express acorresponding action using an action tag without a need for a user toselect an action of the avatar directly.

FIG. 21 illustrates speech bubbles 2100 in various shapes according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. In the chat service, aspeech bubble from among the speech bubbles 2100 in various shapes maybe selected to be used based on a user preference. The speech bubble maybe transformed based on a command, such as, a keyboard command. Forexample, a speech bubble may be associated with an exclamation mark, aquestion mark, or the like. When the exclamation mark or the questionmark is included in chat content of a user, a predeterminedcorresponding speech bubble may be selected automatically by theapplication or server.

FIG. 22 illustrates speech bubbles of various shapes used according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. A screen 2200 is anexample of a screen of a terminal. A first speech bubble 2210 maydisplay a predetermined speech bubble provided automatically based on anexclamation mark when the exclamation mark is included in chat contentinput. A second speech bubble 2220 may display a speech bubble beingprovided after being directly selected by a user.

FIG. 23 illustrates an inner configuration of an avatar service system.An avatar service system 2300 may be a system corresponding to theserver 120 described in FIG. 1, and may provide an avatar service on awired or wireless network. The avatar service system 2300 may include arequest receiving unit 2310, a data extracting unit 2320, and an avataraction processing unit 2330 as shown in FIG. 23.

The request receiving unit 2310 may receive a request for an avatar toperform an action. The action of the avatar may be an animationincluding a plurality of frames to express a motion, a facialexpression, an emotion, or the like.

The data extracting unit 2320 may extract metadata and image datacorresponding to a request from a database storing the metadata withrespect to an action of the avatar and the image data for a plurality oflayers forming the avatar. The plurality of layers may include a centralaxis. The image data may include a plurality of rotated images to whicha differing angles of rotation are applied based on the central axiswith respect to a single layer. The metadata may include information ona layer required for a plurality of frames based on the action of theavatar and an angle of the required layer. The image data may includeinformation on at least one of a depth of the required layer and oncoordinates to which the central axis of the required layer is to beapplied. A corresponding rotated image from among the plurality ofrotated images may be extracted from the database, based on the angle ofthe required layer. The data extracting unit 2320 may verify an angle ofrotation data to be extracted from the database through metadata basedon the action of the avatar. The data extracting unit 2320 may extractthe rotation data corresponding to the verified angle from the database.

A layer may include a framework layer displaying a framework of anavatar. A layer may include at least one of a body layer correspondingto the framework layer and an item layer including at least clothes andaccessories. The data extracting unit 2320 may extract a rotated imagecorresponding to the body layer or an item layer based on a rotation ofthe framework layer. The body layer or the item layer may be rotatedcorresponding to the rotation of the framework layer, and an issue of abroken image may be prevented.

The avatar action processing unit 2330 may generate action data forapplying an action of an avatar to the avatar using the extractedmetadata and the extracted image data. The is avatar action processingunit 2330 may provide the generated action data. The action of theavatar may be expressed based on a motion, an emotion, a facialexpression, or the like, based on a selected rotation data. The avatarmay be moved by changing coordinates of the central axis of layersforming the avatar.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the avatar actionprocessing unit 2330 may generate, as action data, an animationcorresponding to the action of the avatar using the extracted metadataand the extracted image data, and provide the generated action data to aterminal that has transmitted a request. The avatar service system 2300may generate an animation and provide the generated animation to aterminal. The avatar service system 2300 may generate an animation,store/cache the animation and provide the generated animation to aterminal. The avatar service system 2300 may be provided with ananimation (pre-stored or pre-calculated animation) and provide theanimation to a terminal.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the avatar actionprocessing unit 2330 may generate action data in a standard and portableformat, for example, an XML, based on the extracted metadata and theextracted image data. The avatar action processing unit 2330 may providethe generated action data to a terminal that has transmitted a request.An animation of the avatar corresponding to the action data from theserver may be generated in the terminal. An animation may be generatedin a terminal based on action data cached in the terminal.

The action of the avatar, such as, an emotion, a motion, a facialexpression or the like, may be expressed by an animation played by aterminal and displayed on a desired screen location.

FIG. 24 illustrates an avatar service method for an avatar servicesystem is according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.The avatar service method may be conducted by, for example, the avatarservice system 2300 of FIG. 23.

In operation 2410, the avatar service system 2300 may receive a requestfor an avatar to perform an action. The action of the avatar may be ananimation including a plurality of frames to express a motion, a facialexpression, an emotion, or the like.

In operation 2420, the avatar service system 2300 may extract metadataand image data corresponding to the request from a database storing themetadata with respect to the action of the avatar and the image data fora plurality of layers forming the avatar. The plurality of layers mayinclude a central axis. The image data may include a plurality ofrotated images to which a rotation of different angle is applied basedon the central axis with respect to a single layer. The metadata mayinclude information on a layer required for a plurality of frames basedon the action of the avatar and an angle of the required layer, andfurther include information on at least one of a depth of the requiredlayer and on coordinates to which the central axis of the required layeris to be applied. A corresponding rotated image from among the pluralityof rotated images may be extracted from the database, based on the angleof the required layer. The avatar service system 2300 may verify anangle of rotation data to be extracted from the database throughmetadata predetermined based on the action of the avatar, and extractthe rotation data corresponding to the verified angle from the database.

A layer may include a framework layer displaying a framework of anavatar, and further include at least one of a body layer correspondingto the framework layer and an item layer including at least clothes andaccessories. The data extracting unit 2320 may extract a rotated imagecorresponding to the body layer or an item layer based on a rotation ofthe framework layer, such that the body layer or the item layer may berotated corresponding to the is rotation of the framework layer, and anissue of a broken image may be prevented.

In operation 2430, the avatar service system 2300 may generate actiondata for applying an action of an avatar to the avatar using theextracted metadata and the extracted image data, and provide thegenerated action data. The action of the avatar may be expressed basedon a motion, an emotion, and the like, based on a selected rotationdata, and be moved by changing coordinates of the central axis of layersforming the avatar.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the avatar servicesystem 2300 may generate, as action data, an animation corresponding tothe action of the avatar using the extracted metadata and the extractedimage data, and provide the generated action data to a terminal that hastransmitted a request. In some embodiments, the request and the actiondata may be transmitted to other terminals in the same chat room as theuser who requested the action. The avatar service system 2300 maygenerate an animation and provide the generated animation to a terminal.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the avatar servicesystem 2300 may generate action data in a form of an XML based on theextracted metadata and the extracted image data, and provide thegenerated action data to a terminal. An animation corresponding to theaction of the avatar may be generated in the terminal, based on theaction data in the form of the XML. An animation may be generated in aterminal.

The action of the avatar such as a motion or a facial expression may beexpressed by an animation played by a terminal to be displayed on alocation of the terminal's display.

FIG. 25 illustrates an inner configuration of a terminal 2500 accordingto exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The terminal 2500 maybe an apparatus corresponding to a user terminal, for example, theterminal 110 described in FIG. 1. Terminal 2500 may be an apparatusprovided with an avatar service on a network. The terminal 2500 mayinclude an avatar displaying unit 2510, a request transmitting unit2520, and a data receiving unit 2530 as shown in FIG. 25.

The avatar displaying unit 2510 may display an avatar on a screen. Whena user connects to an avatar service through the terminal 2500, theterminal 2500 may receive information on an avatar of the user from aserver. The avatar displaying unit 2510 may display an avatar on ascreen based on the information on the avatar. The server may correspondto the avatar service system 2300 described in FIG. 23.

The request transmitting unit 2520 may transmit a request for an avatarto perform an action to the server. Metadata and image datacorresponding to the request from a database storing the metadata withrespect to an action of the avatar and the image data for a plurality oflayers forming a body of the avatar may be extracted. The server mayextract the metadata and the image data corresponding to the requestfrom the database.

The plurality of layers may include a central axis. The plurality oflayers may include a plurality of rotated images to which a rotation ofdifferent angle is applied based on the central axis with respect to asingle layer. The metadata may include information on a layer requiredfor a plurality of frames based on the action of the avatar, and anangle of the required layer. The metadata may include information on atleast one of a depth of the required layer and coordinates to which thecentral axis of the required layer is to be applied. A rotation image ofa corresponding angle from among the plurality of rotated images may beextracted as image data, from a database by the server based on theangle of the required layer. The server may verify an angle of rotationdata to be extracted from the database through metadata based on theaction of the avatar. The server may extract the rotation datacorresponding to the verified angle from the is database.

An avatar may by moved by changing coordinates of a central axis oflayers forming the avatar.

The data receiving unit 2530 may receive action data for the action ofthe avatar from the server. The action data may be generated in theserver based on the metadata and the image data to be extracted from thedatabase.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the action data mayinclude an animation generated to correspond to the action of the avatarusing the extracted metadata and the extracted image data. An animationmay be generated in the server, and be provided to the terminal 2500.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the action data mayinclude data in a form of an XML generated based on the extractedmetadata and the extracted image data. The terminal 2500 may include ananimation generating unit (not shown) that generates an animationcorresponding to the action of the avatar based on the data in the formof the XML. The animation may be generated in the terminal 2500.

The avatar displaying unit 2510 may display the action of the avatar ona screen based on the action data. For example, the avatar displayingunit 2510 may play the generated animation on the screen and process theaction of the avatar. As described in the preceding, the action of theavatar may be an animation including a plurality of frames forexpressing a motion, a facial expression, an emotion, and the like. Theavatar displaying unit 2510 may play the animation on the screen toapply the action of the avatar to the avatar.

FIG. 26 illustrates an avatar service method conducted by a terminalaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The avatarservice method may be conducted by a terminal 2500 previously describedin FIG. 25.

In operation 2610, the terminal 2500 may display an avatar on a screen.For example, when a user connects to an avatar service through theterminal 2500, the terminal 2500 may receive information on the avatarof the user from a server. The terminal 2500 may display the avatar on ascreen. The server may correspond to the avatar service system 2300described in FIG. 23.

In operation 2620, the terminal 2500 may transmit a request for anavatar to perform an action to the server. Metadata and image datacorresponding to the request from the database storing the metadata withrespect to the action of the avatar and the image data for a pluralityof layers forming the avatar may be extracted. The server may extractthe metadata and the image data corresponding to the request from thedatabase.

The plurality of layers may include a central axis, and include aplurality of rotated images to which a rotation of different angle isapplied based on the central axis with respect to a single layer. Themetadata may include information on a layer required for a plurality offrames based on the action of the avatar and an angle of the requiredlayer, and further include information on at least one of a depth of therequired layer and on coordinates to which the central axis of therequired layer is to be applied. A corresponding rotated image fromamong the plurality of rotated images may be extracted as the image datafrom the database by the server based on the angle of the requiredlayer. The server may verify an angle of rotation data to be extractedfrom the database through metadata based on the action of the avatar,and extract the rotation data corresponding to the verified angle fromthe database.

An avatar may by moved by changing coordinates of a central axis oflayers forming the avatar.

In operation 2630, the terminal 2500 may receive action data for theaction of the avatar from the server. The action data may be generatedbased on the metadata and the image data to be extracted from thedatabase in the server.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the action data mayinclude an animation generated to correspond to the action of the avatarusing the extracted metadata and the extracted image data. An animationmay be generated in the server and provided to the terminal 2500.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the action data mayinclude data in an XML format generated based on the extracted metadataand the extracted image data. The terminal 2500 may include generatingan animation (not shown) corresponding to the action of the avatar basedon the data in the XML format. An animation may be generated in theterminal 2500.

The terminal 2500 may display the action of the avatar on a screen basedon the action data. For example, the terminal 2500 may process theaction of the avatar by playing the generated animation on the screen.As described in the preceding, the action of the avatar may be ananimation including a plurality of frames for expressing a motion, afacial expression, an emotion, and the like. The terminal 2500 may playsuch an animation on the screen, and the action of the avatar may beapplied to the avatar.

For any descriptions omitted in FIGS. 23 to 26, reference may be made toanalogous features described in FIGS. 1 to 22.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it ispossible to store and maintain metadata for representing an action and aplurality of rotated images based on an action for a plurality of layersforming an avatar in a database respectively, and to express an isaction such as various motions or an emotion of an avatar by providingthe metadata and the plurality of rotated images suitable for the actionin response to a request. According to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, it is possible to resolve an issue of a broken imagedue to a rotated image and improve an overall quality of an avatarservice, by forming additional item layers for items such asaccessories, clothes, and the like, to be added to an avatar, as well aslayers forming a body of the avatar, and by generating and maintaining aplurality of rotated images for a plurality of additional item layers toprovide the plurality of rotated images for the plurality of additionalitem layers suitable for actions of layers forming the body.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it ispossible to engage an interest of the user by enabling a user to selectan avatar in a chat service and by expanding a range of maximizing theavatar, to express various emotions of the user realistically through anaction of the avatar, rather than simply a static text-based chat, andto provide a sense of liveliness to chatting. According to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide userswith a service that enables a random chat with all other users through arandom chat function, to verify a previous chat or an action of anavatar through an additional chat log while using the avatar, and togive vitality to chatting by allowing the avatar to move. According toexemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible toautomatically express an action such as an emotion or a motion of anavatar by identifying a predetermined word among chat content, toprovide a speech bubble subject to change according to the chat contentrather than an identical speech bubble, and to allow a user to selectthe speech bubble of the user.

The exemplary embodiments according to the present invention may berecorded is in computer-readable media including program instructions toimplement various operations embodied by a computer. The media may alsoinclude, alone or in combination with the program instructions, datafiles, data structures, and the like. The media and program instructionsmay be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of thepresent invention, or they may be of the kind well-known and availableto those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples ofcomputer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks,floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM discs andDVD; magneto-optical media such as floptical discs; and hardware devicesthat are specially configured to store and perform program instructions,such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flashmemory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include bothmachine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containinghigher level code that may be executed by the computer using aninterpreter. The described hardware devices may be configured to act asone or more software modules in order to perform the operations of theabove-described embodiments of the present invention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variation can be made in the present invention withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An avatar service system for providing animationof an avatar displayed on a display screen of a mobile terminal on anetwork, the system comprising: a processor configured to perform aplurality of functions, the functions being defined as a plurality ofunits including, a request receiving unit configured to receive arequest over the network for the avatar to perform an animated action; adata extracting unit configured to extract metadata and image datacorresponding to the request from a database, the image data including aplurality of layers forming a plurality of parts of the avatar, each ofthe plurality of layers being stored in the database in a predefinedshape of a corresponding portion of the avatar as the avatar appears onthe display screen and having a central axis where the correspondinglayer rotates, and the metadata identifying each of the plurality oflayers, an angle of each of the plurality of layers relative to thecorresponding central axis, and a coordinate of the correspondingcentral axis on the display screen; and an avatar action processing unitconfigured to generate animation action data for applying the animatedaction to the avatar, using the extracted metadata and the extractedimage data having the predefined shape of each of the plurality oflayers stored in the database; wherein the animated action of the avataris generated by rotating at least one select layer from the plurality oflayers a predetermined angle about a central axis of the at least oneselect layer, and wherein the database further stores a plurlity ofrotated images having the predefined shape for each of the layers, andthe rotated images are at differing angles of rotation about thecorresponding central axis.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein themetadata further comprises: information on the at least one select layerin each of a plurality of frames displaying the animated action of theavatar, and information on at least one of a depth of the at least oneselect layer on the display screen.
 3. The system of claim 2, whereinbased on the angle of the at least one select layer, a rotated imagecorresponding to the at least one select layer from the plurality ofrotated images is extracted from the database as the image data.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the coordinates of the central axis of theplurality of layers forming the avatar are changed uniformly to move theavatar on the terminal.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the avataraction processing unit receives the request for the avatar to performthe animated action and transmits and the generated animation actiondata to the mobile terminal.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein theavatar action processing unit generates the animation action data in anextensible markup language (XML) format, and receives the request forthe avatar to perform the animated action and transmits the generatedanimation action data to the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminalgenerates animated action corresponding to the animation action data inthe XML format.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the avatar includes aplurality of framework layers formed from at least one of the pluralityof layers, and the framework layers include a body layer correspondingto body parts of the avatar and an item layer corresponding to aclothing or an accessory of the avatar.
 8. An avatar service methodperformed by an avatar service system for providing animation of anavatar displayed on a display screen of a mobile terminal on a network,the method comprising: receiving a request over the network for theavatar to perform an animated action; extracting metadata and image datacorresponding to the request from a database, the image data including aplurality of layers forming a plurality of parts of the avatar, each ofthe plurality of layers being stored in the database in a predefinedshape of a corresponding portion of the avatar as the avatar appears onthe display screen and having a central axis where the correspondinglayer rotates, and the metadata identifying each of the plurality oflayers, an angle of each of the plurality of layers relative to thecorresponding central axis, and a coordinate of the correspondingcentral axis on the display screen; and generating animation action datafor applying the animated action to the avatar using the extractedmetadata and the extracted image data having the predefined shape ofeach of the plurality of layers stored in the database; wherein theanimated action of the avatar is generated by rotating at least oneselect layer from the plurality of layers a predetermined angle about acentral axis of the at least one select layer; and wherein the databasefurther stores a plurality of rotated images having the predefined shapefor each of the layers, and the rotated images are at differing anglesof rotation about the corresponding central axis.
 9. The method claim 8,wherein the metadata further comprises information on at least oneselect layer in each of a plurality of frames displaying the animatedaction of the avatar, and information on at least one of a depth of theat least one select layer on the display screen.
 10. An avatar servicemethod for animating an avatar displayed on a display screen of a mobileterminal on a network, the method comprising: displaying an avatar onthe display screen of the terminal; transmitting, over the network, arequest for the avatar to perform an animated action to a server; andreceiving animation action data for the animated action from the server,wherein metadata and image data corresponding to the animation actionare extracted by the server from a database, the image data including aplurality of layers forming a plurality of parts of the avatar, each ofthe plurality of layers being stored in the database in a predefinedshape of a corresponding portion of the avatar as the avatar appears onthe display screen, and having a central axis where the correspondinglayer rotates, and the metadata identifying each of the plurality oflayers, an angle of each of the plurality of layers relative to thecorresponding central axis, and a coordinate of the correspondingcentral axis on the display screen, the animation action data isgenerated in the server based on the extracted metadata and theextracted image data having the predefined shape of each of theplurality of layers stored in the database, the animated action of theavatar is displayed on the display screen based on the animation actiondata, the animated action of the avatar is generated by rotating atleast one select layer from the plurality of layers a predeterminedangle about a central axis of the at least one select layer, and whereinthe database further stores a plurality of rotated images having thepredefined shape for each of the layers, and the rotated images are atdiffering angles of rotation about the corresponding central axis. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein the metadata further comprisesinformation on the at least one select layer in each of a plurality offrames displaying the animated action of the avatar, and information onat least one of a depth of the at least one select layer on the displayscreen.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein based on the angle of the atleast one select layer, a rotated image corresponding to the at leastone select layer from the plurality of rotated images is extracted fromthe database as the image data.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein thecoordinates of the central axis of the plurality of layers forming theavatar are changed uniformly to move the avatar on the terminal.
 14. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the animation action data comprises data inan extensible markup language (XML) format, and the animated action isdisplayed based on the XML format data.
 15. One or more non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media having stored thereon a computer programthat, when executed by a mobile terminal comprising a display screen, anetwork connection and one or more processors, causes the one or moreprocessors to execute steps for an avatar animation on the displayscreen, the steps comprising: displaying an avatar on the display screenof the terminal; transmitting, over the network, a request for theavatar to perform an animated action to a server; and receivinganimation action data for the animated action from the server, whereinmetadata and image data corresponding to the animation action areextracted by the server from a database, the image data including aplurality of layers forming a plurality of parts of the avatar, each ofthe plurality of layers being stored in the database in a predefinedshape of a corresponding portion of the avatar as the avatar appears onthe display screen, and having a central axis where the correspondinglayer rotates, and the metadata identifying each of the plurality oflayers, an angle of each of the plurality of layers relative to thecorresponding central axis, and a coordinate of the correspondingcentral axis on the display screen, the animation action data isgenerated in the server based on the extracted metadata and theextracted image data having the predefined shape of each of theplurality of layers stored in the database, the animation action of theavatar is displayed on the display screen based on the action data, andwherein the database further stores a plurality of rotated images havingthe predefined shape for each of the layers, and the rotated images areat differing angles of rotation about the corresponding central axis.16. The system of claim 1, wherein the avatar displayed on the displayscreen of the mobile terminal is a profile image of a user in a socialnetworking service.
 17. The system of claim 1, wherein the avatardisplayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal is a profileimage of a user participating in a chat room.
 18. The system of claim17, wherein the avatar is displayed on the display screen together witha plurality of other avatars representing profile images of other usersin the chat room.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the avatar actionprocessing unit is configured to move the avatar to a different locationon the display screen among the other avatars on the display screen.